DD rejecting her lovely dad

[Cuppatea14]

DD1 is 2.9 and the very proud big sister to 10 week old DD2. Since I was around 7 months pregnant she has been rejecting DH, he is not allowed do anything for her and barely gets a cuddle anymore, everything has to be me. He is a lovely dad and is trying to be pragmatic about it (we know it's a normal enough phase with newborn arrivals) but I can see it is wearing him down now. She can occasionally be quite nasty to him and tells him she doesn't like him, it breaks my heart.

Is there anything we can do to smooth this transition? I am worried about their relationship, DH is starting to give up a bit

As you say it's perfectly normal and it will pass in time.

The important thing is to not give into it. If you've decided between you that DH will put her to bed/take her to the park/get her dressed/take her to nursery etc. then DH does it. You can't give in to toddler tantrums and let her rule the roost. It sounds like you've been letting her dictate who does what? The sooner she realises that it's going to be 50/50 whether she likes it or not, the sooner she'll stop with the tantrums.

Have him take her out on his own, she will kick off until she gets to the park/zoo/swimming and then miraculously, she just might tolerate daddy when he's doing something cool with her. Don't give in, she doesn't get to pick who does what.

It passes. When DD (now 4) was around 2, some days she would have an absolute meltdown if I left her with DH. Then just recently both DD and DS had a Mummy phase where neither of them wanted him!
Poor DH: he really struggled with it some days it you've just got to keep things on an even keel until they get back to normal.
Now DD is a real Daddy's girl. It will pass!

I'm on the receiving end of the unloved parent with DD1. Has your DH ever been with your older without you? I found that in the weekend when DH is around she keeps telling me she hates me, doesn't want mummy etc etc. But during the week when DH isn't around she is very good with me. I just accept that I'm lower on the pecking order then DH in DD1s world. In my case it works well because I have a baby to look after so DD1 is happy for DD2 to stick with me and she has her daddy.

I think she doesn't hate or even dislike her dad. She just prefers you. I would suggest allowing them to have some 1:1 time going out. Or accept it and let your baby claims daddy as hers.